Week 35, Day 2: Envy, a Dangerous Thing
Today’s Reading: Genesis 37:1-36
Some thoughts from the reading…
In Genesis 37, we read the first indications that Joseph would have dominion over his brothers. According to his dreams, his brothers and his parents would bow down to him. This angered his brothers, and because of envy, they sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites then sold him into Egypt. We will see how this affects Jacob and the rest of his children over the next few chapters.
Envy was the core problem with the sons of Jacob. It is amazing to see how people have the same characteristics now as they had back in Jacob’s time. Envy causes people to do terrible things to others today, just as it did then. Matthew 27:18 tells us that Jesus was handed over to be crucified because of envy. The New Testament is full of warnings against envy. Grab a concordance (or search on your computer) and see just how often God warns us to avoid this danger.
Why is envy such a dangerous thing? Because it causes men to do things that they would not normally do. When we are envious of someone else, it causes us to do something to bring harm on them. Perhaps when we are envious we try to make others look bad. Or maybe we will go even further than that, and try to cause some real, physical harm to them.
Some may look at their co-workers, and see their success, and try to sabotage their progress. Some may become envious of their own physical relatives, and try to cause damage to them, such as trying to damage their reputation. The worst situation is when envy creeps in between Christian brethren. It is a tool that Satan uses constantly in the Lord’s church to cause division. In fact, if you look at many of the passages dealing with envy, you will see that other sins are coupled with the envy.
We need to guard our hearts against envy, else Satan will use it to destroy our faith, and our relationships with our brethren and friends.
Question: How can we avoid being envious of others?
Popularity: 19% [?]